Suspended camp cooler



Jain.' 3, 1933.

.1. H. MENDENHALL ET Al.

SUSPENDED CAMP COOLER Filed sept. 1e, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet Aan ..EE si?,

Jan. 3, 1933.

J. H. MENDENHALL ET AL SUSPENDED CAMP COOLER Filedsept. 1e', 1951 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS J Hon/Aka /Vg/s/v//ALL BY 7210/145 7.'.5//04/-1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J. HOWARD MENDENHALL AND THOMAS T. SHOAF, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SUSPENDED CAMP COOLER Application led September 1G, 1931.

Our invention relates to improvements in suspended camp coolers, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object or' our invention is to provide a suspended camp cooler which is collapsible .so as to be packed in a small space when not in use, and which is designedto be cooled by a1r or Water. The device has adjustable shelves and it is entirely enclosed by cloth which protects the food carried by the device from insects, birds and animals.

The device is extremely simple in con struction, and is particularly designed for '15 automobile campers.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the Water container;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through the device;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the shelves;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a shelr1 supporting` member; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

In carrying out our invention we provide a rigid bottom 1, rigid shelves 2; and a rigid top 3, the bottom 1, the shelves 2, and the top 3 having openings 4 therein for permitting supporting chains 5 to pass therethrough. The bottom 1 has bars 6 that eX- tend across vthe openings 1 and through the lowermost links of the chains 5. The bars 6 Serial No. 563,204.

are secured to the bottom 1 and in this way the bottom is supported by the chains.

In Figure 6, we show supporting members 7 for the shelves 2 and the top- 8. Each supporting member has its ends formed into eyelets 8 with tongues 9 that extend along the members in the manner shown. The tongues are passed through the links of the chains 5 and the shelves 2 and the top 3 rest upon the members 7 The members 7 may be disposed in any vposition desired along the chains 5 and in this Way the shelves are adjustable. It vis obvious that as many shelves as desired may also be used.

The tops of the chains 5 are connected to a supporting member 10 (see Figure 1) having an eyelet 11 formed therein. The top of the member 1() has a hook 12 designed to be secured to any support such as that indicated by the dotted lines 13.

A flexible cloth Wall 14 (see Figures 1 and 2) is provided and this Wall has its bottom and top edges attached to the bottom 1 and the top 3. Figure 7 shows how the edges of the cloth are passed around a strip 15, Which in turn is nailed or otherwise secured to the bottom 1. The top edge of the Wall 14 is secured to the top 3 in the same manner.

The wall 14 has an opening 16 (see Figure 1) that extends from the top 3 to the bottom 1. A Cloth lap 17 is secured to the top 3 and has a bar 18 (see Figure 5) that eX- tends across its bottom and is receivable in clips 19 carried by the bottom 1. A handle ing flexible Walls and being disposed on the top 3. Splash plates 23 extend transversely wicks that extend between the water in the ,59 a door, shelves adjustably connected to the acro'ss the container 22 and Figure 2 shows how the bottom edges 24 of these plates are spaced above the bottom 25 of the container' 22. The splash plates are iiexible.

A wick 26 preferably circular in cross section is passed beneath the bottom edges of the splash plates 23 and has its ends passed over the ends of the container 22 and secured to the wall 14. Other wicks 27, similar to the wick 26, are passed beneath the wiel; 26 and over the sides of the container 22 and have their ends secured to the wall 14 and the door Hap 17. Vater 28 is placed in the container 22 and the Wicks will convey this water to the wall 14 and the door iiap 17 by capillary attraction. In this way the wall 14 and the door are maintained in a moist condition, and the evaporation of this water will keep the interior of the device cool.

When packing the device the bottom 1 and the top 3 may be moved toward each other and the wall 14, the flap 17, and tie chains 5 will permit the device to be collapsed into a small space. The container 22 will also collapse.

This device may be cleansed by turning the unit inside out after removing the shelves between the bottom and the top.

Metal pipes 28 enclose the portions of the container and the wall 14. These pipes are hooked over the edges of the container wall and prevent evaporation of the Water from the wicks. The pipes may be disposed inside the container when the device is collapsed.

The flexible walls of the container 22 are supported by being attached to the chains 5.

lVhile we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, it should be understood that various changes or modilications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim: y

1. A collapsible cooler comprising a base and a top, iexible supporting members extending from the base and passing through the top, a flexible wall connecting the base and the top, a portion of the wall constituting supporting members, clips carried by the base, a bar carried by the bottom of the door, and being receivable by the clips, and fastening means for securing the entire lengths of the side edges of the door to the edges of the flexible wall.

2. In a collapsible cooler, a water container` having strips extending thereacross With their lower edges spaced above the bottom of the container, a wick passed beneath the strips and having its ends overhanging the container, and other wicks extending beneath the tirst wick and having their ends overhanging the container.

3. In a collapsible cooler, a rigid top and bottom, clips carried by said bottom, a cloth wall extending between the two and having an opening extending the height of the wall, a flexible door secured to the top and having a bar extending across its bottom and being receivable in the clips, and fastening means securing the sides of the door to the edges of the opening.

4. ln a collapsible cooler, a bottom and top, flexible members supporting the bottom and extending through the top, shelves having openings for receiving the members, and bars adjustably secured to the flexible members for supporting the shelves and top.

J. HOWARD MENDENHALL. THOMAS T. SHOAF. 

